Success?  

My dear friend, have you shuddered lately under the pressure to be a success? It seems to be a faithful companion to several of us, that inaudible question of success and worth. From whence did it come? Who or what, really, is behind the pressure?

I’m reminded of Jesus talking about the Spirit, "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going." (John 3.8 NASV) So, I would say, is this naggerly thing ‘success.’ Jesus used a turn on words when comparing the ‘pneuma’ as "wind." I would suggest that Solomon’s use of the word "vanity" in Ecclesiastes in defining ‘success’ is also an appropriate turn on wording.

"What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils? I have seen the task, which God has given to the sons of men with which to occupy themselves. He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that Man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

"I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor – it is the gift of God." (Eccl. 3.9-13)

Okay, so this is Oriental in origin and philosophy, not Occidental. Since that is the case we must be careful or we’ll automatically discard it as an indecipherable foreign body inconsistent with Western Philosophy. The problem with laying aside this bit of philosophy from the Old Testament is that this statement of Solomon’s is consistent with the life and teachings of Jesus. I’ve never really enjoyed the Sermon on the Mount (more on that at another time).

And so I stretch myself from my deeply ingrained socio-economic and culturally derived work ethic philosophy and perspective to embrace the possibility that there may be something eternally beneficial in a perspective that is not award/results/goal oriented. What? That "the profit to the worker from that in which he toils…" is found in "rejoic(ing) and do(ing) good in one’s lifetime…" and that in "eat(ing) and drink(ing) (we will be) see(ing) good in all (our) labor – it is the gift of God."

How on earth does that laissez-faire attitude accomplish anything? Have you read Paul’s letter to Titus lately? A heavy emphasis on doing good seems to be Paul’s encouragement to all he met.

Maybe it’s because I work in a mental health environment during the week, for some reason I tire of hearing all the psychological explanations for why people are what they are and do what they do. So, I won’t even go the direction of ego motivation, weak sense of self, attempting to find place in a family system, identity crisis and competition, etc. Each of these has their place, certainly, as do the sociologist’s claims at causation. What drives me in this discussion is the persistent thought that we are to be of a different kingdom. We have a different claim, a different heritage, a different motivation, a different goal and are to be in want of a different outcome.

So, what have you enjoyed lately? If heaven is to be our tangible, future asset and eternal life our hope and reward, what are you enjoying in the here and now? The old Puritanism philosophy of denial of self isn’t even close to Jesus’ teachings on the disciplined self. Again, that is another subject to be covered at another time. We have been granted life and that abundantly. We have been called to peace and joy, and that presently. We have never been required to be successful nor winners just faithful, peaceful, joyful stewards of the Grace given each of us.

That being said, I’ve decided to live within the moment without trying to gauge my position along the path. I will endeavor to never try to evaluate my place on the path in relationship with the place someone else appears to be holding. I’ll understand ‘carpe deim’ to mean ‘go for the gusto,’ enjoy the meal, find joy in the moment.

I’ll enjoy the possibility that the greatest honor is having a loving wife and children. I’ll not be nearly as concerned with my position or public image as I am with the approbation of those nearest and dearest. I will be diligently attentive to the development of the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ moment by moment and give no further watch to my ‘rights’ nor pride indulgent self.

I will take the time to listen to other’s stories, and be at peace with their presentation. I will honor the fact, heretofore frequently ignored by myself, that "it is God Who is at work both to will and to do His good pleasure in" those I deem irritating as well as within me.

I will lift my glass in happy salute to the successes of others and enjoy my moment in the present knowing the fragile and precious nature of life.

I commend you, my dear friend, to His eternal love, grace, mercy and peace. What more could you want? What is it, really, that you think you need beyond those things to be counted successful, and by Whose count?

Rest a moment, lift your thoughts to the Lord and be thankful.